Draw to Leicester Ends a Disappointing Chelsea Season

For most Chelsea supporters, the 2015-2016 season will be a season to forget, or possibly not if you want the feeling of disappointment to linger in your memory. A 1-1 draw to Leicester City at Stamford Bridge is a fitting end to a season that has seen many a draw at home for the Blues, and probably a few too many draws overall.

Cesc Fabregas converted a second-half penalty to give Chelsea a second-half lead, only to be cancelled out by a wicked, dipping effort from range in the 82nd minute by Danny Drinkwater that sent both sides home with a point apiece.

Leicester City were given the traditional guard of honour and welcomed by a warm reception from the Chelsea supporters, but it was Leicester’s manager who stood front and center in the mind of the crowds. Claudio Ranieri this time returned to Stamford Bridge as a Premier League champion and was given an ovation from the crowd, one quite befitting of the achievement with Leicester and his achievements as manager of Chelsea, and looked genuinely moved.

Post-match, it was John Terry who took center stage during the final lap of honour. The Chelsea captain was suspended for the match, but banners and placards saluting the captain were waived by the supporters before and during the match. After the match, an emotional Terry addressed the supporters, reiterating his desire to stay at Chelsea, though he did not confirm whether that was actually going to be the case.

The match itself felt mostly like a friendly, especially for the first half. Leicester looked the most threatening of the two sides in the first half with Jamie Vardy making his presence felt.

Early on, the England striker fired shot from just outside the box after being allowed to turn and run at Gary Cahill, only to drag his shot wide. Later in the half, a clever one-two saw Vardy sent clear behind the Chelsea defence, but only to dink the ball wide as he was under pressure from the on-rushing Thibault Courtois.

Chelsea thought they had their breakthrough just before the half when Pedro diverted a Willian cross past Kasper Schmeichel, only for the Spaniard to be correctly ruled just offside.

That breakthrough eventually came when Nemanja Matic was sent sprawling to the turf inside the penalty area after a clumsy challenge from Jeffrey Schlupp. Fabregas stepped up and converted the penalty, sending Schmeichel the wrong way, and Chelsea took the lead.

The friendly-feel of the match continued, though, into the second half. Tammy Abraham, who made his Chelsea debut at Anfield on Wednesday, replaced Bertrand Traore early in the second half, and Fikayo Tomori was given his debut and half an hour to play, coming on for Branislav Ivanovic.

Then came the 82nd minute when Drinkwater met N’Golo Kante’s layoff and produced a wonderful dipping strike that beat Courtois low and to his right, bringing the teams level and giving Leicester a point to end their season.